Reviews are a hot topic for local businesses and eCommerce stores alike, but what about Q&As (questions and answers).
When combined with reviews, questions and answers not only significantly increase sales, but also increase the average value per sale transaction (Bazaarvoice, Conversation Index, Q2 2011).
Smart business operators know that reviews are good for business, but combined with Q&A, they’re great!
Reviews and Q&A go together like a hand and glove. In this article, we’re going to share tips to leverage Q&A to your best benefit.
Why is Q&A so important?
Let’s, for a moment, sit in our shopper’s seat.
We’re surfing the internet looking for something special and come across your store. We find something that we like, but we don’t know anything about you and your brand. You have some great positive verified buyer reviews on display so instilling a great deal of confidence in not just the item, but also the reputation of your site.
We have finally selected a product based on some of the authentic reviews, but we have one specific question that we’d like answered. Just one question is all that stands between a completed sale and an empty shopping cart.
So what do you do?
- Search the internet to find the answer…and maybe end up on someone else’s store site? Wow, that would be unfortunate right! Or
- Send an email to the store contact email and hope it finds the right person who can answer the question? Or
- Ask a direct question or see similar questions with an answer right there on the product page?
If you’re like most people (and we are sure you are), you probably prefer option 3 , which is one of the reasons we built HelpfulCrowd.
Questions & answers are the perfect solution to break down those purchase barriers and increase sales by giving your shoppers a great frictionless experience to :
- browse previously asked questions and answers; and
- ask questions and receive knowledgeable and informative answers.
Not only does Q&A help you sell more by removing purchase barriers, but they are also likely to encourage customers to spend more – up to 11% more!
Questions and answers also provides you a unique opportunity to WOW your shopper. To demonstrate what your business stands for and to show off your best-in-class customer service, which only further increases the trust and confidence in your visitors.
And when your shopper becomes a customer, great pre and post sales service together with their awesome experience with your product/service will only mean one thing – more great reviews!
So don’t wait any longer, actively promote the Questions & Answers feature, build trust and confidence and sell more, together with reviews and HelpfulCrowd.
